“Hara did not suspect the relationship between Rati and Vindhu. In that time, it was unheard of for a wife to cheat on her husband, although the reverse was as common as in any other time. Hara was ecstatic that Rati was going to have a baby. Maybe it would be a male child, he thought, and he would at last have an heir. But he had to worry about his lover’s baby. He was not sure what to do about that.

“Close to the time when Rati was supposed to give birth, she went to see Vindhu. Her timing was poor. She thought Hara was going to be out late, but he returned home early and followed her to Vindhu’s house. He saw them kissing and came to realize that they had been lovers for some time. But he did not do or say anything right away. First he wanted to see if their child looked like him or Vindhu. He still wanted an heir even though he no longer wanted his wife. He decided to keep his wrath in check until Rati gave birth, but it was a great struggle for him.

“Rati and Hara’s mistress had their babies on the same day, two male children. Hara was in a quandary. Rati’s child could be his or it could be Vindhu’s—he simply could not tell. But his lover’s baby was clearly his. He saw this the hour they were born, and he came to a terrible decision. While both women were recovering in nearby parts of the city, he switched the babies in their cribs. Then he smothered Rati’s baby in such a way that it looked like the child had died in its sleep. Naturally, his lover was beset with grief when she recovered enough to hold the dead infant. He consoled her as best he could before returning home to his wife. Both labors had been difficult. Neither woman had had a chance to get a good look at their children when they had been born.

“Months passed and Rati took care of her son but she did not feel any love for him. Once again, in her melancholy state, she turned to Vindhu for comfort. By this time Hara was in the habit of stalking her. Seeing them together enraged him and he probably would have killed his wife right then except he needed her to nurse and care for his son. But his rage could not be kept hidden long and one night when he had been drinking, he bragged to her about what he had done. He did not think for a moment she would do anything to harm his son. She had cared for him since he had been born. She acted like she loved him.